A college football coach leaving in midseason is shocking in some ways, especially when Oregon State’s Gary Andersen agreed to release the school from ‘all future contract obligations and payments.’ (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez, File)

Gary Andersen and Oregon State parted ways Monday and I admit I like it.

A coach leaving in midseason is shocking in some ways, especially when Andersen agreed to release Oregon State from “all future contract obligations and payments.” But Andersen’s integrity opens the door to an interesting experiment.

I’ve wondered in recent years what would happen if a college adopted the mindset of an Italian or English soccer team and fired a coach after four or five bad games. If you keep the buyouts low, why not?

Sooner or later, the athletic director has to get it right. So Oregon State gets rid of Andersen and brings in someone else. Give them a year. Or less. If it doesn’t improve, hire someone else.

A Pac-12 athletic director once told me schools pay top money for coaches because of the lack of job security in coaching. Here is how you solve that: Go hire young coordinators and see if they will do more with making less. I bet they will. The cult of personality involved in coaching these days creates many false idols that receive millions each year for little benefit. You don’t think anyone else besides Ed Orgeron could be 3-2 at LSU right now?

For some reason, LSU gave Orgeron a $12 million buyout. That was LSU’s second mistake.

Oregon State cornerbacks coach Cory Hall is the interim coach following Andersen’s departure. Can he do any worse than 1-5? The Beavers could have really stressed USC on Saturday if they were not so inept. A young coach can do as bad as a proven one like Andersen. And for a lot less money.

No one in this country has the guts to try it, but if you get some rich boosters and your administration to back the idea, it might work. Some UCLA fans probably want to try it.

THE ES-PETERSEN NETWORK

Why did ESPN attack Washington on Saturday night? The network was apparently miffed Huskies coach Chris Petersen railed against playing so many night games. But Petersen never attacked ESPN.

The worldwide leader responded by showing three actual cupcakes on the field to symbolize Washington’s easy nonconference schedule. They also complained about Petersen refusing to meet with their broadcast team the day before the game.

I’m against night games (pro-Petersen) and playing cupcakes (pro-ESPN). But I can’t help but wonder if ESPN would act the same if it did a Michigan or Alabama game? You think Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban would put up with that? They are prickly under the best of circumstances, but Petersen’s probably still a hayseed in ESPN’s eyes.

And behind it all, you have Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, who tries to take both sides, along will the billions from the TV deal that created this mess.

COACH-SAVING PERFORMANCE?

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate just might save Coach Rich Rodriguez’s job, which is ironic because Tate only got inserted into the Colorado game after starting quarterback Brandon Dawkins suffered an injury. Tate responded by setting an FBS single-game record for a quarterback with 327 yards rushing.

No one mentions he completed 12 of 13 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. But why didn’t Rodriguez figure out sooner the Serra High of Gardena graduate was his most-dynamic quarterback/player? Maybe that explains Arizona’s woes.

HEISMAN WATCH

The oddsmakers finally realize Stanford tailback Bryce Love is the Pac-12’s top Heisman Trophy candidate. Love is behind only two players, Penn State tailback Saquon Barkley and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, in Bovada’s odds at 4/1.

He gained 152 yards (his lowest performance of the season!) in Stanford’s impressive road victory over Utah last weekend. Washington should be nervous about going to Stanford Stadium on Nov. 10. That could also be the game where Love wins the Heisman.

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